Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)  

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 

Location: Chicago, IL / Quincy, IL 

Company Overview: 

Rack Builders Industrial Inc. (RBI) is a leading provider of structural steel industrial racking solutions for warehousing facilities across North America. Founded in 2009, RBI operates two manufacturing facilities, with its primary location in Quincy, IL and corporate leadership in Chicago. Our founding values of ingenuity, quality, integrity and people continue to guide management and employees through the Company’s continued growth.  

Position Overview

RBI is seeking a strategic, hands-on Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join its executive leadership team at an important stage of the Company’s growth and evolution. This newly created role will play a central role in strengthening the Company's financial foundation and supporting its continued development as a growing, family office-backed business.

The CFO will have broad responsibility for the Company’s finance and accounting function and will work closely with the CEO, executive leadership team and the Board.

This position requires regular travel to the Company’s manufacturing facilities.

Key Priorities (First 12–18 Months)

• Financial Close, Reporting & GAAP: Improve accuracy, and transparency of financial reporting, achieve GAAP compliance and prepare the Company for its first financial statement audit, anticipated in March 2027

• Budgeting & Financial Planning: Develop and manage the annual operating and CapEx budget process and establish long-range financial plans 

• Inventory & Manufacturing Finance: Strengthen inventory accuracy, controls, costing, and reporting while improving visibility into manufacturing costs, margins and variances

• Financial & Business Analytics: Build KPI frameworks and reporting that provide actionable insights into business performance  

• Operational Performance & Collaboration: Collaborate cross-functionally with executive and operational leaders to improve efficiency, productivity, and margin performance 

Core Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Lead all accounting and finance activities and establish a strong foundation of financial discipline, accuracy, and GAAP compliance

• Ensure timely, accurate financial statements and strengthen the monthly close, internal controls and compliance processes  

• Manage state regulatory compliance and sales and use tax

• Manage treasury, tax and audit relationships, including lender reporting and compliance with financial covenants

• Lead the Company's first financial statement audit and ensure readiness for ongoing audit requirements

• Optimize financial reporting, controls, automation, and integration between financial and operational processes within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Establish cash flow forecasting and improve visibility into working capital and liquidity

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning & Analysis

• Build and implement the Company's first formal annual operating and CapEx budget and recurring forecast

• Develop meaningful financial and operational KPIs and reporting 

• Provide analysis of revenue, gross margin, operating expenses and EBITDA by product line, location and customer/channel 

• Provide financial insight and recommendations to support pricing, operational, and strategic decisions  

Manufacturing & Inventory Management

• Develop, improve and automate inventory controls, valuation, costing, and reporting

• Implement appropriate manufacturing accounting processes, including product costing and manufacturing variance analysis 

• Partner with operations and plant leadership to improve inventory accuracy 

• Establish reporting around raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, inventory turns, excess and obsolete inventory, and other relevant inventory metrics

Team Leadership

• Mentor and develop the finance and accounting team

• Establish the appropriate structure, roles, processes and capabilities to support growth

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Qualifications & Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (CPA preferred)

• 12+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with prior CFO or senior finance leadership experience preferred

• Deep, practical manufacturing accounting and inventory management experience required, including strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting 

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and experience preparing for and managing financial statement audits

• Experience optimizing ERP systems, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central preferred

• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and cash flow management experience  

• Demonstrated ability to partner with operations and influence non-financial stakeholders 

• Experience partnering with Boards and senior leadership teams

• Strategic and analytical thinker with strong operational execution 

• Effective communicator with the ability to translate financial information into clear, actionable business insights  

• Builder and change agent with a track record of establishing structure, improving processes and driving accountability 

• Collaborative, low-ego leadership style

Salary rage $235,000 to $285,000